Sintering machine



Oct. 21, 1952 w, KELSEY 2,614,829

SINTERING MACHINE Original Filed March 2, 1950 INVENTOR I /I/$ ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1952 orrice SINTERING MACHINE Walter Kelsey, New York N. Y. Original application March 2, 1950, Serial No.

147,317. Divided and this application October 19, 1950, Serial No. 191,051

This invention relates to sintering A and more particularly to improvements in the inclined gravity acting type described in my copen'ding application Serial No. 736,487, filed March 22, 1947, for Gravity Flow Sintering Machines, Patent No. 2,527,309 of October 24, 1950.- a

The object'of this invention is to provide such improvements and this invention consists essentially of a sinter pass inclined tothe vertical, having an open top in communication with the discharge outlet of a feed chute to receive and carry the stock in a line continuing in the direction of the feed chute discharge.

i The sinter pass being variable in slope, the flowuot sinter stock and sinter vis regulated in consonance with the sintering action, the top surface or side of the flowing sinter stock pass- 'ing under an ignition device, to ignite the adjacent surface of the stock, and the flow; of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings,

1 is a vertical section of asingle slopin 'surface'sinter pass taken on line i--| of Figs. 2and3. Figuz is an inclined-section on line 2-4 of Fig- 1: r Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

Referring generally to the drawings, the embodiment shows a straight line flow of the stock from the discharge end of the feeding chute to the upper open receiving end of the sinter pass,

-flow continuing without reversal of the slope of the stock as the stock enters the sinter pass,

which sinter pass is'sloped to permit gravity action to force the flow of stock, but not retard the stock against such gravity action.

More particularly, the inclosed stock feeding 'chute l0, (Fig. 1) and the offset inclosed stock feeding chute I 4 have such a combined length between the gate II and the ignition chamber 1 c ainlf (c1. 266-21) machines I! that there is no appreciable loss of air suction or pressure through the stock held in the two air tight continuous connecting chutes. The stock fills the chutes throughout their crosssection areaand forms an air choke. The top of the'offset I2 is so slopedthat the top of theflowing stock isrestrained, thus preventing the separation of large pieces in the stock during this part of the stock flow. The idea in these ofiset chutes with'their stock pockets 16a and Ma is .to take the vertical stock load above each pocket and break up the compact condition of the stock. as itflows out of each pressure re lieving pocket. Pocket [-611 has a horizontalbottom but on account of the slope. changing provision of the sinter pass the pocket a has a. sloping bottom-formed by the end of the sinter "pass, which end has an extension which may be joined to a part of the flange connection extending from the feed chute. The top surface of stock in this variable size pocket Ma has the same natural retarding slope as in pocket Hid. As the flow at each pocket is created by the withdrawal of stocktfrom below; the compact condition is thus greatly reduced making the stock condition more open for the passage of air. Two stock pockets are shown in the drawings, it may be advisable to have more pockets to break up more completely the compact condition of stock and permit a freer flow of air through the stock. The stock receiving part Zla of the stock feed.- ing chute has atop I3, not perforated, extending from a wall l5 tothe ignition chamber [1, sloped at the'natural free slope of the top of the stock. A bottom or grate Ina extending from the pocket Ma beyond the ignition chamber H, in advance of the sinter. pass proper 2| is sloped at l the same slope of the sinterpass. In the embodiment, this part Illa which isa grate, and the grate of the sinter pass 2! are continuous. (Fig. 1.)

The stock feed chute has for its object to prevent compacting of the stock, since this would prevent proper airing of it, for the subsequent sintering operation. At least two steps are provided in reverse directionto each other, to divert the stock flow angularly to the vertical and angularly to itself, and vertically spaced from each to allow for the continued stock flow. By providing pockets for the stock, the stock flows are guided by the surfaces of the stock in the pockets, whereby intermingling of stock at these guiding surfaces take place. While the embodiment shown, presents the pocket wall H5 at right angles to the vertical wall adjacent thereto, this is notessential, since acute or obtuse angular relation,-

ticular-type by gravity is hard to predict. "friction on the sinter pass surface varies with ships will operate to carry out the principle, provided the guiding surface has an angle to the vertical which enables the stock to flow by gravity action, and be retarded, but not prevented from flowing. The flow of the stock, first in one direction (angular in respect to the vertical) and then inthe other, with a turning point between said directions assures a fiuffiness to the stock, thus, preventing compacting of the same. Throughout the feed chute the stock extends from wall to wall, filling the horizontal cross-sectional areas from the receiving end of the chute to its discharge end. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the feeding chute may be said to extend from its feed inlet valve II to about at the chamber I! are connected, to and move with a frame I9 and the piping and duct connections to same (not shown) are made flexible or adjustis supported by shaft 20.

.The sinter pass M (Fig. 1), has a perforated bottom or grate 23 which extends from the upper lower end of wall I3 forming a chute 2Ia. with the part Ifla of the grate 23.

The sinter pass is made of a parallel top perfo-,

rated surface wall 22 and bottom surface wall or grate 23 (Fig. 1), and inclosing side walls 24 "(nigger held together'in a frame I9, pivoted on a shaft' (Fig! 1),

The grate 23' has a portion Ifla which acts as the bottom of chute 2|a. The

'top'ope'n end of the sinter pass 2I receives ignited stock from the lower side of the ignition chamber from chute 2Ia. The top end of the sinter pass 'chut'e'forms with the feed chute I4 a pocket I la which varies in size depending on the slope position of the sinter pass. Thus, the uppermost end Illa of the grate 23 acts as the chute bottom and "with the top I3 establishes the direction of the consequent stock flow with the sinter pass tilted to provide a flow for that particular stock. The 'arrows I40 'point out the direction of the flow of stock at that-point. The next adjacent part of the grate 23- is opposite the ignition chamber pressure at Illa aids to draw the flame to the surface of the stock. The intensity of the flame, the width of the ignition chamber, the amount and rate of flow of stock, and the intensity of the air action, are individually adjusted to give proper ignition to thesurface'of the stock passing the ignition device. The lower edgeof side I8 of the ignition chamber is made to clear the flowing ignited surface of the stock.

The angle of flow of sinter stock of any par- The the weight, compactness and moisture content "of the stock with air pressure used and other variables.

Y I The angle of repose of the top surface is also variable due to conditions mentioned andto the amount of formed sinter in the stock. A gravity flow sintering machine to meet commercial conditions should be' made with a range of slope for the sinter pass, and changes should I5 (Fig. 2). For a sintering machine used constantly for the same stock, the parts can be welded at I5a; or suitable adjustable devices may be used for different .stocks.

Air duct 21, and, ignition end IIIa to the bottom breaker roller 28. The perforated top 22 for air passages is preferably parallel to the bottom 23 and extends from the top guide roller 35 down to a space above the bottom breaker roller 28. These top 22 and bottom 23 surfaces and theguide roller 35, which may or may not bepower driven (drive not shown) 'aresupported from the enclosing sides 24 (Fig1'2) and the main supporting frame I9 (Fig. 1) shown in outlineonly. Roller 35 is driven from shaft 20. This roller 35 has applied to its bottom side, a doctor or scraper 36 to remove adhering burning sinter allowing it to pass under the top 22 with the rest of the ignited sinter stock. The air'for burning the sinter passes through the top 22, through thesinter stock in the pass 2| and through the grate Illa and grate 23 to the air duct 21 and to chimney duct conn'ections not shown. During the airpassage through the ignited stock in the p'ass'2I, the ignited fire line '31 is drawn through the flowing'stock burning out against the grate 23 near the lower'part of the air duct 21.

The sinter pass 2| is at an angle to the vertical and the fire line is at an angle to grate 23, with constantly decreasing'spaces from the grate 23.

The angle of the grate 23 to the vertical, is such as to retard the flow of the stock, but permitits flow under gravity action.

- At-the lower point of the sinter passv2I, all the stock has been. converted to sinter and continues to flow down into the controlling sinter breaker rollers 28 and'29. These rollers control the stock flow as in operation the stock gate I I, at the top of the feed chute is open. The length of the sinter pass from the bottom of the air duct 21 to the breaker roller 28 and'29 may be lengthened relatively beyond what is shown to give spacefor the sinter to cool. This cooling may be aidedqbya cross flow of cooling air. Sinter is discharged from therollers on the conveyor 30 and ,to the conveyor 38 and to such processing as required discharging in the direction of the arrows 30a. The final discharge of sinter or stock from the single sloping sinter pass is controlled by the conveyor 30 as the free flowing stock is stopped on this conveyor, and when moved facilitates the sinter flow from the sinter pass. v

, InFig. 1 the sinter pass is shown as moved to a position at a lower slope which is shown dotted. The top '22 is moved to position 2211, the guide roller 35 to position 35a, the ignition surface IIa to position III), the grate Illa to position Illb, side of air duct 2! to position 21a, top of chute- I3 to position I3a, and breaker roller 28 to position 28a. Other features of the sinter passand frame not named are-movedwith-the frame to a position corresponding to the lower; slope. A collecting conveyor 38 is shown to receive the sinter from conveyor-30. '75

Thesection Fig. 2 shows top guide roller 35with relation to the grate 23 and air duct 21 and the construction of the inclosing sides 24 with provision for changing height of same by changing depth of channels 24a.

The section Fig. 3 shows the crushing roller 29 and shaft 20 (power connections not shown) in relation to the pan conveyor 30.

The stock feeding chute thus consists of four portions. Portion A directs the stock vertically downwardly. Portion B directs the stock from right to left. Portion C directs the stock vertically downwards. Portion D directs thestock from leftto right, with the discharge of the stock movingin a direction in alignment of the left to right inclined chute. For a right to left inclined chute, the portions B and D are in reverse.

The stock in the portion B moves in an inclined direction at a right angle to direction of the top wall of the sinter pass, and the stock in the portion D moves in an inclined direction the same as the direction of the top wall of the sinter pass. This is a divisional application to my application filed March 2, 1950, Serial No. 147,317 for Sintering Machines. i r

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

The method of which Fig. 1 presents one embodiment, is not claimed herein, it being claimed igniting device at the upper end of said top wall for igniting the adjacent surface of the stock within the upper end of said sinter pass, and means supplying air to the stock in the sinter pass chute for continuing the ignited surface during the flow of the stock in the sinter pass chute until the stock in said sinter pass chuteis converted to sinter for discharge at its lower end, with a stock feeding chute having an open top for the receipt of stock and an open bottom for the discharge of stock and including four stock directing portions, all portions having front, rear, and side walls, the first portion including parallel spaced vertical walls, said second portion having its front in my copending application Serial No. 178,195, r

filed August 8, 1950, for Method of Breaking Sinter During Sintering Sinter Stock to Sinter. Another division of Serial No. 147,317, filed March 2, 1950, for Gravity Flow Sintering Ma- H chines (parent case) is being filed on even date herewith, and is application Ser. No. 191,050.

I claim:

In a sintering machine, the combination of a sinter pass including a top wall, a parallel bottom wall spaced therefrom, and sidewalls connecting the top and bottom walls forming an elongated sinter pass chute for guiding stock in the mass throughout its cross-section, having an open upper receiving end, and an open lower discharging end, said top and bottom walls having an inclination to the vertical to retard but not to prevent the descent of the stock by gravity from said receiving end to said discharging end, a stock wall in an inclined direction outwardly of the front wall of said first portion, in a direction at a right angle to that of the top wall of the sinter pass, and a bottom wall on the rear wall of the first portion of a, length substantially equa-lto the distance from said front to said rear wall of said first portion, said third portion including vertical parallel spaced top, rear and sidewalls, and said fourth portion having its rear wall in inclined direction outwardly from the rear wall of said third portion in the same direction as the direction of the top wall of the sinter pass, and in alignment therewith, whereby the stock mass flows first in a vertical direction, thenin an inclined direction at a right angle to direction of the top wall of the sinter pass, then in a vertical direction, and then in an inclined direction the same as the direction of the top wall of the sinter pass into the receiving end of the sinter pass in line with the inclined direction of the movement of the stock mass of the sinter pass.

WALTER KELSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the :iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 865,659 Scott Sept. 10, 1907 916,394 Dwight et al. Mar. 23, 1909 1,422,701 Harbord July 11, 1922 1,940,246 Clark et al. Dec. 19, 1933 2,392,526 De Shazo Jan. 8, 1946 1 2,527,309 Kelsey Oct. 24, 1950 

